With the Tigers licking their wounds from a heartbreaking loss to Alabama last Saturday and to Tennessee during the SEC Tournament, there's an uneasy feeling for the Auburn family as March approaches.
AU is in the running for a No. 1 seed for just being the best team in college basketball from a record standpoint -- and especially factoring in Quad 1 wins.
But even with a high seed, upsets happen. And if an upset happens, three guys who have gotten into headlines for the wrong reasons could find their way out of the program.
Chad Baker-Mazara
What an amazing key piece in Bruce Pearl's system. He creates shots on his own, he’s unselfish, he compliments Johni Broome’s aggressiveness, and he‘s willing to be the villain on his own team. That is huge, but sometimes that backfires like when you get ejected from the game with 10:52 left in the second half.
You have to take the good with the bad.
Chad is a two year starter after transferring from Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Florida in 2023. And after the NCAA ruled in favor of adding an extra year of eligibility for players who played at the junior college level.
This ruling only goes for one year and it’s only for players who have exhausted their four-year eligibility by playing in junior college but that is still an extra year or another chance to win the title in Chad’s eyes.
Personally I don’t believe he will transfer due to being such a good player in Pearl's system but anything is possible in the modern era of recruiting.
Ja’Heim Hudson
Hudson is the next one on this list benefitting from the NCAA's decision to allow an extra year of eligibility and career-altering numbers at AU since transferring from SMU, there’s really not a list of reasons why Hudson should stay.
Then there was the scuffle on the plane with freshman Jakhi Howard, who is getting more minutes than the senior which just fuels the fire.
If Auburn doesn’t win the dance he a potential goner. Howard was the big-ticket player who will have been derailed. Hudson may not live that down in Auburn.
Jakhi Howard
This talented freshman obviously feels the heat since the whole plane gate scuffle with the senior Hudson. The character issues that stem from his reactions on the court and off the court are troubling but it’s Bruce Pearl's job to put players in good positions to win so It isn’t like he doesn’t have talent.
Averaging a 53.6 field goal percentage with only 10 min as a freshman is not bad. The kid can shoot. But AU might not be the place for him to be even though most would love to see him stay but he has to be more coachable.